The Minister for Police and Regional Member for Bougainville, Hon. Peter Tsiamalili Jr., MP, has confirmed that the Minister for Information and Communications Technology, Hon. Timothy Masiu, is alive and well.
“Contrary to a fake Facebook post claiming that Minister Masiu passed away in Cairns, Australia, I can unequivocally state that our good Minister is alive, well, and in good spirits.
“I was personally with Minister Masiu in Cairns from Monday to Thursday last week, after he was airlifted on Sunday, 15 July 2025, for precautionary medical tests following a low blood level reading.
“Minister Masiu has since been discharged from Cairns Base Hospital and has been advised by his attending doctor to rest and recover.
“I also spoke with Minister Masiu a short while ago, and I can assure our Government and people, including those in South Bougainville, that he is in high spirits and very much alive,” said Minister Tsiamalili.
He confirmed that the Prime Minister has been briefed on both the fake news incident and Minister Masiu’s current health and recovery.
Minister Tsiamalili added, “It is truly disheartening to see a minority of Papua New Guineans stoop so low as to spread fake news and misinformation about fellow citizens in such a harmful way.”
“Rest assured, the Government, through the Department of Information and Communications Technology, acted swiftly this morning to trace and identify the source of the fake Facebook post.
“I have been advised that two individuals behind the posts have already been identified and that several Facebook accounts have been taken down.”
“We are working quickly to get to the bottom of this and ensure the perpetrators are held accountable. Such behavior has no place in our society,” Minister Tsiamalili said.